薛立斋治通府黄廷用,饮食起居失宜,两足发热,口吐痰,自用二陈、四物并甚,两尺数而无力,此肾虚
之症也。不信,仍服前药,足跟热痒。以为疮毒,又服导湿之剂,赤肿大热;外用敷药,破而出水,久而不愈。
及用追毒丹,疮实如桃,始信薛言,滋其化源,半载得瘥。
一男子素不慎起居,内热引饮食,作渴体倦,两足热,后足跟作痛。或用消热除湿之剂,更加发肿。又服
败毒之药, 赤痛甚。恪用祛毒消热,溃烈翻张,状如赤榴,热痛如锥,内热晡热。此因足三阴亏损,朝用十
全大补,夕用加减八味丸,外敷当归膏,两月余而愈。其服消毒等药而殁者,不能枚举。
薛立剂治一妇人,素血虚,因大劳,两足发热晡热,月经过期。或用四物、芩、连,饮食少思,胸痞吐痰。
用二陈、枳实、黄连,大便不实,吐痰无度,足跟作痛。曰∶足热晡热,月经过期,肝脾血虚也;胸痞吐痰,
饮食不思,脾胃气虚也。盖胃为五脏之根本,胃气一虚,诸虚悉至。先用补中益气加茯苓、半夏,脾胃渐健,
乃佐以六味丸,不两月而痊。
一妇人劳则足跟热痛,作阴血虚,用八珍汤而痊。后遍身瘙痒,服风药发热抽搐,肝脉洪数。此肝家血虚,
火盛生风,以天竺黄、胆星为丸,用四物、麦冬、五味、芩、连、炙草、山栀、柴胡煎送而愈。
一妇人两足发热,足跟作痛,日晡热甚。此肝肾血虚,用逍遥散、六味丸,五十余剂诸症愈。
朱丹溪治一人,足跟痛,有血热,用四物汤加黄柏、知母、牛膝之类。(《治法汇》。)
一膏粱之人,两脚发热,作渴,左尺脉数而无力。谓此足三阴亏损,防患疽。不信,反服清热化痰之药,
更加晡热头晕。又服四物、知、柏、日晡热甚,饮食渐少而发疽。乃用补中益气、六味地黄,百余而愈。其不
信,以致不起者多矣。
一治脚汗,用杨花着鞋中,或加绵絮入在内尤佳。(《百乙方》。)
治远行脚肿痛方,用之可行千里,轻便甚妙。防风、细辛、乌药等,各为细末,掺在鞋内,如着草鞋,即
以水微湿过,然后掺药。一法以蚯蚓涂肿处,高搁起脚,一夕即愈。(《医说续编》。)
立斋治杨锦衣,脚跟生疮如豆大,痛甚,状似伤寒。谓猎人被兔咬脚跟成疮,淫蚀为终身之疾。若人脚跟
患疮,亦终不愈,因名兔啮也。遂以还少丹治之少可。次因纳宠作痛,反服攻毒药,致血气愈弱,腿膝痿软而
死。盖足跟乃二跷发源之处,肾经所由之地,若其疮口不合,则跷气不能发生,肾气由此而泄,必将为终身之
疾。况彼疮先得于虚,复不知戒,虽大补气血,犹恐不及,况服攻毒悍药,以戕贼之乎。
王大国治南昌司理胡慎三,左足患痈,直穿脚底。医已数易,日甚一日,病楚几绝。国至,命急去敷药,
止服汤剂。司理曰∶汤剂岂能生肌耶?国曰∶愿限半月全愈。服至三四日,疮口渐合。司理大喜,才二十日,
肌肉已满。(《江西通志》。)
柴屿青治李学士向山长男孝廉,忽患两足涌泉穴中,俱有隐隐一青圈,旋即破口出水,疼痛异常。延医
治之,俱不识其症。诊之,两尺极微弱。症属少阴不足所致,遂定十全大补汤。乃以年少畏服,力劝之,服二
十剂而愈。
薛立斋治疗通政使黄廷用,因饮食起居不规律,导致双足发热,口吐痰涎。患者自行服用二陈汤、四物汤且剂量过大,诊见两尺脉数而无力,这是肾虚的症状。患者不信从,继续服用之前的药物,导致足跟热痒。他以为是疮毒,又服用了祛湿的药物,结果患处红肿大热;外用敷药后,皮肤破溃流水,久治不愈。后来使用追毒丹,疮口实如桃核状,此时才相信薛立斋的话,通过滋养化源(补肾阴以生精血),半年后痊愈。
有一男子平素不注意起居养生,内热引动食欲,出现口渴、身体疲倦、双足发热,随后足跟疼痛。有人给他用清热除湿的药物,反而更加肿胀。又服用败毒的药物,患处红肿疼痛加剧。坚持使用祛毒消热的药物,导致疮口溃烂翻张,形状像红色的石榴,热痛如针刺,伴有内热和傍晚发热。这是因为足三阴经亏损,早晨服用十全大补汤,晚上服用加减八味丸,外敷当归膏,两个多月后痊愈。那些服用消毒等药物而死亡的,无法一一列举。
薛立斋治疗一位妇人,平素血虚,因过度劳累,出现双足发热、傍晚发热,月经延期。有人给她用四物汤加黄芩、黄连,导致饮食减少、胸闷、吐痰。又用二陈汤、枳实、黄连,导致大便不成形、吐痰无度、足跟疼痛。薛立斋说:“足热、傍晚发热、月经延期,是肝脾血虚;胸闷吐痰、饮食不思,是脾胃气虚。胃为五脏的根本,胃气一虚,各种虚证都会到来。”先用补中益气汤加茯苓、半夏,脾胃逐渐强健,再辅以六味丸,不到两个月就痊愈了。
有一位妇人劳累时足跟热痛,诊断为阴血虚,用八珍汤而痊愈。后来全身瘙痒,服用祛风药后出现发热抽搐,肝脉洪数。这是肝血虚,火盛生风,用天竺黄、胆星制成丸药,用四物汤、麦冬、五味子、黄芩、黄连、炙甘草、山栀、柴胡煎汤送服而愈。
有一位妇人双足发热,足跟疼痛,傍晚发热严重。这是肝肾血虚,用逍遥散、六味丸,五十多剂后诸症痊愈。
朱丹溪治疗一人,足跟痛,有血热,用四物汤加黄柏、知母、牛膝之类。(《治法汇》。)
一位生活优裕的人,双脚发热,口渴,左尺脉数而无力。他说这是足三阴经亏损,预防发疽。患者不信,反而服用清热化痰的药物,导致傍晚发热加重、头晕。又服用四物汤、知母、黄柏,傍晚发热严重,饮食逐渐减少并发了疽。于是用补中益气汤、六味地黄丸,一百多剂后痊愈。那些不信从而导致死亡的人很多。
一种治疗脚汗的方法,用杨花放在鞋中,或者加入棉絮在里面更好。(《百乙方》。)
治疗远行脚肿痛的方子,用了可以行走千里,非常轻便奇妙。防风、细辛、乌药等,各研为细末,撒在鞋内,像穿草鞋一样,先用水稍微湿润鞋子,然后撒药。另一种方法是用蚯蚓涂抹肿胀处,抬高脚,一晚即可痊愈。(《医说续编》。)
薛立斋治疗锦衣卫杨锦衣,脚跟生疮如豆大,疼痛剧烈,症状类似伤寒。他说猎人被兔子咬伤脚跟成疮,淫蚀成为终身之疾。如果人脚跟患疮,也终不愈,因此名叫兔啮。于是用还少丹治疗,症状稍减。后来因为纳妾导致疼痛,反而服用攻毒药,导致气血更弱,腿膝痿软而死。因为足跟是二跷脉发源之处,肾经所经过的地方,如果疮口不合,则跷气不能发生,肾气由此而泄,必将变成终身之疾。况且他的疮先得于虚,又不知戒慎,虽然大补气血,还恐怕来不及,何况服用攻毒的悍药来伤害它呢?
王大国治疗南昌司理胡慎三,左脚患痈,直接穿透脚底。医生换了好几个,病情一天比一天重,痛苦几乎致死。王大国到后,命令立即去掉敷药,只服用汤剂。司理说:“汤剂怎么能生肌呢?”王大国说:“愿意限定半个月完全痊愈。”服药到三四天,疮口逐渐愈合。司理大喜,才二十天,肌肉已满。(《江西通志》。)
柴屿青治疗李学士向山长的儿子孝廉,忽然患两足涌泉穴中,都有隐隐的一圈青色,随即破口出水,疼痛异常。请医生治疗,都不认识这个病症。诊脉,两尺脉极微弱。病症属于少阴不足所致,于是确定用十全大补汤。但因为患者年轻害怕服药,极力劝说他,服用二十剂后痊愈。
Xue Lizhai treated Huang Tingyong, Commissioner of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, who suffered from fever in both feet and expectoration due to improper diet and daily routine. The patient had self-medicated with excessive doses of Erchen Tang (Two-Chen Decoction) and Siwu Tang (Four-Substance Decoction). His pulses at both chi positions were rapid but forceless, indicating Kidney deficiency. Disbelieving this diagnosis, he continued taking the previous medicines, resulting in heat and itching in the heels. Believing it to be a carbuncle toxin, he took damp-draining agents, which led to severe redness, swelling, and heat. External applications caused the skin to ulcerate and weep fluid, failing to heal for a long time. Only after using Zhuidu Dan (Toxin-Expelling Pill), when the ulcer became solid like a peach pit, did he believe Xue. By nourishing the source of transformation (nourishing Kidney Yin to generate essence and blood), he recovered after half a year.
A man who was careless with his daily regimen developed internal heat, leading to thirst, fatigue, and fever in both feet, followed by heel pain. A practitioner administered heat-clearing and damp-draining agents, causing increased swelling. Subsequent use of detoxifying herbs resulted in severe redness and pain. Persistent use of detoxifying and heat-clearing herbs led to ulceration with everted edges, resembling a red pomegranate, with stabbing heat and pain, accompanied by internal heat and afternoon tidal fever. This was due to deficiency of the three Yin meridians of the foot. He took Shiquan Dabu Tang (Ten-Agent Great Tonifying Decoction) in the morning and Jiaban Bawei Wan (Modified Eight-Ingredient Pill) in the evening, with external application of Danggui Gao (Angelica Ointment), recovering after more than two months. Many died from taking such detoxifying agents.
Xue Lizhai treated a woman with inherent Blood deficiency who, after overexertion, experienced fever in both feet, afternoon tidal fever, and delayed menstruation. Another practitioner prescribed Siwu Tang with Huangqin (Scutellaria Root) and Lianzi (Coptis Rhizome), leading to poor appetite, chest fullness, and phlegm. Subsequent treatment with Erchen Tang, Zhishi (Immature Bitter Orange), and Huanglian further weakened her Spleen and Stomach, causing loose stools, excessive phlegm, and heel pain. Xue stated: "Foot heat, afternoon tidal fever, and delayed menstruation indicate Liver and Spleen Blood deficiency; chest fullness, phlegm, and anorexia indicate Spleen and Stomach Qi deficiency. The Stomach is the root of the five Zang organs; if Stomach Qi is deficient, all deficiencies arise." He first used Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) with Fuling (Poria) and Banxia (Pinellia Tuber) to strengthen the Spleen and Stomach, then supplemented with Liuwei Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia), achieving recovery in less than two months.
Another woman suffered from heat and pain in the heels upon exertion, diagnosed as Yin-Blood deficiency, and recovered with Bazhen Tang (Eight-Treasure Decoction). Later, she experienced generalized pruritus; after taking wind-dispelling herbs, she developed fever and convulsions, with a surging and rapid Liver pulse. This indicated Liver Blood deficiency with excessive Fire generating Wind. She was treated with pills made of Tianzhu Huang (Bambusa Textilis Nodules) and Dansheng (Arisaema Cum Bile), taken with a decoction of Siwu Tang, Maidong (Ophiopogon Tuber), Wuweizi (Schisandra Fruit), Huangqin, Huanglian, Zhi Gancao (Honey-fried Licorice Root), Zhizi (Gardenia Fruit), and Chaihu (Bupleurum Root), resulting in recovery.
A woman presented with fever in both feet, heel pain, and severe afternoon tidal fever. This was attributed to Liver and Kidney Blood deficiency. She was treated with Xiaoyao San (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) and Liuwei Wan, recovering after more than fifty doses.
Zhu Danxi treated a man with heel pain and Blood heat, prescribing Siwu Tang plus Huangbai (Phellodendron Bark), Zhimu (Anemarrhena Rhizome), and Niuxi (Achyranthes Root). (From *Zhifa Hui*.)
A person of luxurious lifestyle presented with fever in both feet, thirst, and a rapid yet forceless left chi pulse. Zhu identified this as deficiency of the three Yin meridians of the foot and warned against the risk of carbuncles. The patient disbelieved and took heat-clearing and phlegm-resolving herbs, worsening the afternoon tidal fever and dizziness. Subsequent use of Siwu Tang, Zhimu, and Huangbai exacerbated the afternoon fever and reduced appetite, leading to the development of a carbuncle. He was finally treated with Buzhong Yiqi Tang and Liuhuang Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill with Cornus and Dioscorea), recovering after more than one hundred doses. Many died due to their disbelief.
For treating sweaty feet, poplar catkins can be placed in shoes, or cotton wadding added inside for better effect. (From *Baibifang*.)
For treating swollen and painful feet from long-distance walking, a formula allows walking thousands of miles with great lightness and efficacy. Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia Root), Xixin (Asarum Root), and Wuyao (Lindera Root) are ground into fine powder and sprinkled inside shoes, similar to wearing straw sandals. The shoes should be slightly moistened with water before applying the powder. Alternatively, earthworms can be applied to the swollen area, and the legs elevated; recovery occurs within one night. (From *Yishuo Xubian*.)
Xue Lizhai treated Yang Jinyi of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, who had a bean-sized ulcer on the heel with severe pain, resembling Taiyang disease. Xue noted that hunters bitten by rabbits on the heel develop chronic ulcers called "Rabbit Bite" (Tunie), which never fully heal. He treated Yang with Huanshao Dan (Return to Youth Pill), which provided slight relief. Later, due to pain after taking a concubine, Yang took attacking and toxic herbs, weakening his Qi and Blood further, leading to flaccidity of the legs and knees and eventual death. The heel is the origin of the Qiao vessels and the pathway of the Kidney meridian. If the ulcer does not close, Qiao Qi cannot arise, and Kidney Qi leaks out, becoming a lifelong ailment. Since the ulcer originated from deficiency, even strong tonification might barely suffice; using harsh attacking herbs only harmed him further.
Wang Daguo treated Hu Shen-san, Judicial Administrator of Nanchang, who had a carbuncle on the left foot penetrating through the sole. After several failed treatments, the condition worsened daily, nearing death. Wang ordered the immediate removal of external applications and prescribed only decoctions. When the administrator questioned if decoctions could regenerate flesh, Wang promised complete recovery in half a month. By the third or fourth day, the wound began to close. Within twenty days, the flesh was fully regenerated. (From *Jiangxi Tongzhi*.)
Chai Yuqing treated the son of Academician Xiang Shangchang, who suddenly developed faint blue rings around the Yongquan acupoints (KI 1) on both soles, which soon ruptured and wept fluid with extreme pain. Physicians could not identify the syndrome. Pulse diagnosis revealed extremely weak chi pulses. The syndrome was determined to be due to Shaoyin insufficiency. Chai prescribed Shiquan Dabu Tang. Although the young patient feared taking medicine, he was persuaded to take it, recovering after twenty doses.